]]>Merlyn started her strength journey with CrossFit in 2012, where she met our ownÂ Katie Feeley. After spending some time with CrossFit, Merlyn discovered that she really enjoyed lifting heavy things (which is totally understandable). After attending a Strength Basics Seminar at Iron Sport in March 2013, Merlyn started training her powerlifts 3 days a week with Katie. Since then she has added 150# to her powerlifting total. This weekend Merlyn will compete in her first powerlifting meet, the UPA Power Classic at Iron Sport, where she’ll attempt a PR 375# deadlift – a far cry from the newbieÂ that Katie met in 2012 and the lifter that came to us for help just a year ago. The following is an email from Merlyn that we received this week.

So Katie and I were laughing about this earlier this morning but wanted to share some perspective which really affirms the power of Katie Feeley Training and the amazing culture of lifting Steve has fostered at Iron Sportâ€¦

So attached is my failed deadlift from 20 months ago at an Annual Festivus Meet (a national competition that many CrossFitters participate in). The failed weight here was 315 lbs (after a successful 310lb deadliftâ€¦)

Merlyn just barely misses lockout on 315# deadlift

Several scary and hysterical features here, now understood by me to be major transgressions in the powerlifting world:

No beltâ€¦ Oh Boy!

Glovesâ€¦ Ugh!

Wrist bands- huh? (very much a CrossFit thing as WODs can be long and sweat comes hot and heavyâ€¦)

Screaming at the top of the lift- ergo- no proper breathing or tightness (Sorry Steve- I know and Iâ€™m sorryâ€¦)

Got almost to the top of the lift and still failed it – who does that?